Summer Solstice: The Holiday of Fire & Water

Noc Kupały, Henryk Siemiradzki, 1880's

This evening at sunset kicks off Noc Kupały, the Polish holiday of Fire & Water, also known to Westerners as the Summer Solstice. (Water and Fire/Sun being seen as the fundamental manifestation of the life force, Water being Female, and Fire/Sun being Male.) Since the Catholic Church arrived in Poland in the tenth century, their tireless attempts at eradicating the festivals (changing the name from Kupała's Night, to Noc Swietojanska, Saint John's Night) ultimately failed. It is celebrated in Poland to this day with bonfires, fireworks, music and dancing.



The Goddess Kupała, Wojciech Gerson, 1897


Kupała is the Goddess of herbs, sorcery and sex. Also known as the Water Mother, she is associated with trees, herbs and flowers. During this magickal night, people bathe themselves in lakes and rivers to revitalize their youth, health, and fertility. Men test their strength and courage by jumping through the bonfires, (perhaps after having a good amount of Krupnick, Honey Vodka?) While the men are running around, the women take the time to gather flowers and herbs to make a wianek, wreath, to adorn their heads. Rose and Rue are native plants with ancient and varied meanings, and ancient Mediterranean traders most likely brought the Rosemary that came to symbolize fidelity, remembrance and love. To this day women will wear their flower wreaths, then float them in rivers and lakes (Rzucanie Wiankow), with or without candles affixed to them.

Other traditions include the men's search for the mythical fern Kwiat Paproci. Though usually barren, this fern allegedly flowers on the shortest night of the year. It will of course bring riches and wish fulfillment to whichever man is brave and righteous enough to discover it. While searching for this mythical fern, if he happens to return with the wianek of the unmarried woman of his choice, they would then be officially betrothed. (Perhaps this is where the experience of first sexual intercourse became known as defloration, lol?)